Agenda item

Report No: COU/SE/16/013

Council considered Report No: COU/SE/16/013, which sought approval for a number of amendments to the Council’s Constitution, as recommended by the Joint Constitution Review Group and the Mayoral Advisory Committee.

Councillor Ian Houlder, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, drew relevant issues to the attention of Council, including that the Joint Constitution Review Group had recommended some amendments to Part 3 and Part 4 the Constitution, as set out in Appendices A to F.  The Group had also recommended that Procedure Rules for the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel should also be included in the Constitution, and these were contained in Appendix G.

Appendix H (which was a duplicate of Appendix A to Report No: MAC/SE/16/003)  provided proposed changes to the Mayoralty Protocol for incorporation into Part 5 of the Constitution, as recommended by the Mayoral Advisory Committee.  The proposed changes were in relation to the Council’s financing of twinning events.

In response to questions, Councillor Houlder informed Council that:

(a)     the Borough Council would welcome involvement from Bury St Edmunds Town Council (and other partners) regarding future support for twinning events; and

(b)     a written response would be provided regarding the breakdown of the Civic Regalia and Insignia budget for 2016/2017.

On the motion of Councillor Houlder, seconded by Councillor Frank Warby, and duly carried it was

RESOLVED: That

Recommendations from the Joint Constitution Review Group:

6 June 2016

(1)     The revised wording in the St Edmundsbury Borough Council Constitution, be approved in relation to:

(a)     Part 3 – Functions and Responsibilities: Section 2 – Responsibility for Council Functions

(i)      A – Development Control (as set out in Appendix A to Report No COU/SE/16/013

(b)     Part 3 – Functions and Responsibilities: Section 4 - Scheme of Delegation to Officers

(i)      Head of Human Resources, Legal and Democratic Services (which relates specifically to the delegations of the Service Manager (Legal and Democratic Services) and the Elections Manager) (as set out in Appendix B to Report No COU/SE/16/013).

(ii)      Head of Operations (as set out in Appendix C to Report No COU/SE/16/013).

(iii)     Head of Planning and Growth (which relate specifically to the Officer delegations within the Planning and Development Matters) (as set out in Appendix D to Report No COU/SE/16/013).

(c)     Part 4 – Rules of Procedure

(i)      Council Procedure Rules (as set out in Appendix E to Report No COU/SE/16/013).

(ii)      Committee Procedure Rules (as set out in Appendix F to Report No COU/SE/16/013).

(2)     To note the inclusion in the St Edmundsbury Borough Council Constitution of the Procedure Rules for the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel (as set out in Appendix G to Report No COU/SE/16/013).

Recommendations from the Mayoral Advisory Committee:

31 March 2016: Mayoralty Protocol – The Financing of Twinning Events

(1)     The adoption of the practices outlined in (a) to (g) below, be approved; and

(2)     the changes required to the Constitution, working practices and the Mayoralty Protocol as a consequence of the recommendations be made as detailed and tracked on the revised Mayoralty Protocol, attached as Appendix A to Report No: MAC/SE/16/003.

(a)     That the Council continues to support the twinning relationships financially (from the appropriate budgets available to the Mayoralty) until 1 April 2018.

(b)     To support the 50th Anniversary of the twinning with Compiegne in 2017 within current Mayoralty budget (civic functions) as well as accommodating 2016 delegates visiting Bury St Edmunds.

(c)     To continue with current arrangements with Kevelaer until the end of 2017 within current Mayoralty budget.

(d)     That from 1 April 2018, the Mayor does not automatically and annually accept and fund invitations to visit twin towns abroad nor hosts delegates from the civic budget.

(e)     That the Twinning Associations start to contribute to the twinning costs between 2016 -18.

(f)      That the Head of HR, Legal and Democratic Services be given delegated authority to make the required changes to the Mayoralty Protocol, Sections 2.2 -2.7.

(g)     That a letter be written to the Friends of Compiegne and the Kevelaer group explaining future arrangements and continuing commitment to supporting twin towns whilst reducing the annual expense to the Council.